Draft rigging



Mmm

D. S. BARRWES DRAFT RIGGING Filed Nov. 14, 1925 @Moine-v Patented Nov. 29, 1927.

UNITEDA STATES( ,PATENT OFFICE.

nennt-n s. nARRows, or ROCHESTER, new YORK, assienon 'ro man sivirne'ron* com rami, or new YORK, n. Y., A CORPORATION OF'MARYLAND.

:DRAFT eiserne.

Application led November 14, 1925. Serial-N0. 69,094.

This invention relates to railway draft rigging and more particularly to a construction in whicha direct swiveling motion 1s permitted between a horizontal yoke and a cooperating lcoupler.

l`he principal ob]ect of my invention, generally considered, is the provision of a draftV rigging construction preferably employing only one key which serves for supporting the 1@ forward portion of the yoke and transmitting draft forces to` the car sills, a direct swiveling connection being provided between the butt of the coupler and the forward port-ion of the yoke, the ,rear end of said is yoke being slidably received in a pocket pro vided in a cooperating backstop.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a draft rigging construction involving a horizontalyoke with an integral. aoswivel block portion atthe forward end thereof, said swivel block portion serving for directly engaging, at its rear face, a front follower member and provided with a forwardly opening pocketed portion for re- 25 ceiving the butt of the associated coupler and articulated with respect thereto.

vA further object of my invention is the provision of a draft rigging mechanism involving a yoke of the horizontal type as` 3U sociated with a backstop provided with al forwardly opening `pocket for receiving the rear end of the yoke and allowing sliding'motion therein, upright abutments being provided adjacent said pocketed end of the backstop for transmitting buiiing forces from a rear follower member, embracedby the yoke, to the center sills of the car.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of a draft rigging arrange ment involving the employment of a closed yoke of the horizontal type, one draft key only being preferably employed for suppoit ing said draft rigging adjacent the forward portion of theyoke, the rear portion of .said yoke being supported by a hollow Referring to the drawings illustrating my invention, the scope whereof is defined by the appended claims:

Figure l' is a plan view, partly in hori zontal section, illustrating a draft rigging arranged between the center sills of a car and embodying features of my invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical central longitudinal section of the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figure l.

Referring to the drawings in detail, like parts being designated by like reference characters, the center sills of a car are indicated fragmentarily at l, said sills being illustrated Aas of the channel type with upright web portions 2 and outwardly extending upper and, lower flanges 3.

Connected to the webs of the center sills are cheek plates 4 which, in the embodiment disclosed, are each provided with a single slot 5 therethrough, said slots being defined by iiange portions 6 bordering the same and the inwardly extending sections 7 ofwhicb extend into and closely fit within correspending slotted portions 8 of the center sill webs 2. The cheek plates 4 are shown con nected on the outside faces of the webs 2 of the center sills thereby allowing a slightly greater space between the same for the reception of the associated draft gear but, if desired, the same may be applied on the in side faces of said sills.

Supported on the flanges 6 of the cheek plates 4 `and extending through the slots 5 therein .is a key 9 which functions to transmit draft forces from followerlO which is supported directly thereon by the key extending through a registering slot therein. A yoke 1l is similarly supported upon the draft key 9A by said draft key extending through registering slots l2 in the arms of said `yoke preferably adjacent the forward end thereof. In the present embodiment of my invention', the yoke is of the horizontal type and is preferably formed by casting, 100

the rear end of said yoke being U-shaped in accordance with the usual practice. Said U-shaped portion supports a rear follower member 13 in the usual manner and between the follower members 10 and 13, cushioning 105 extending into a pocketed portion 16 there 110 I vided with side walls 2O extending longiof and being supported on upstanding web 17, ektending transversely, and longitudinally extending webs 18 for rigidi'fylng said casting and bracing the web 17 with respect to the floor or lower Web 19 of the casting.

The 'backstop casting 15 is preferably protudinally alongthe webs 2 of the center sills and ,rigidly connected thereto by means of rivets 21.' Said Walls are vbraced together and connected to the longitudinally ext-ending web or flange portions 18 by means of a 4transverselyextending web 22, the central portion of said web being apertured to form a; thimble 23 for the reception ofthe usual king pin. Ther side walls of the casting` are also joined together by substantially horizontal web 24 defining the upper limit of the pocket 16 and provided at its forward edge with an upstanding flange or web 25. The

webs or flanges 1 7 and 25 serve as abutments The sides of the web 25 are preferably eX-.

tended diagonally outwardly and rearwardly tojoin with the side walls 2O of the casting andv a similar construction is provided with respect to the web or flange 1-7. Although the U-shaped portion of th yoke 11 may bev constructed in 'any desired manner, yet for adequate strength, it 1s preferably of I or H section adjacent its central longitudinal section and the forwardly extending arms therefrom preferably increase in width gradually toward the forward ends thereof t6 thereby compensate for the slots 12 therein. The forward ends of said arms are preferably joined by an integral bridge or diaphragm portion 27.v the rear face of which directly engages the front' follower 10 and the forward portion of which is vpocketed for receiving the butt of an associated coupler 28. A pin 29 serves for pivotally connecting said coupler and yoke and allowing a desired amount of angling therebetween.

In the present embodiment of my invention, the diaphragm portion connecting the forward ends of the arms of the yoke is formed with forwardly extending webs or flanges 30, 31 and 32 which provide pockets therebetween for-receiving the rearwardly extending webs or flanges 33 and 34 of `the coupler 28. All of said websvor flanges 39, 31, 32, 33 and 34 are curved coaxially with respect to the pin 29 along their free edges and the pockets between said flangesare likewise formed with complementary curved bearings for said flanges, likewise curved coaxially with respect to .the pivotal pin 29,

thereby increasing the bearing area between said coupler and yoke for adequately transmitting buffing forces therebetween. In addition to the pockets provided between the flanges for receiving the corresponding flanges of the cooperating members, flanges or webs 35 and 3G positioned respectively on the upper and lower surfaces of the coupler butt are preferably provided for engaging the forwardly extending flanges il() and 32 from the yoke. Said flanges 35 and 36 are also preferably curved coaxially with respect to the pin 29 and thc ends thereof are preferably braced by diagonally extending wing or gusset portions 37, the ends of which merge into the respective faces of the coupler. l

For securing the pin 29 in position and preventing undesired removal thereof, any usual form of locking means therefor may be provided. In the present emlualinu-nt. I have shown perforated lug portions 3S on the upper surface of the flange 30 and corresponding lug portions 39 on the lower surface of the flange 32, said portions lying on opposite sides of the pivot pin 29, which extends through registering apertures in the flanges 30. 3l, 32. 33 and 34, and are adapted for receiving locking bars or cotters @ffl and 4l respectively. After insertion of the members 40 and 41 through the apertures in lugs 38 and 39 respectively, the ends. or straight end, of each of said locking members may be bent, as illustrated particularly in Figure 2, for securely holding them in place for locking the pivot pin 29 in posit-ion. Preferably prior to insertion of the members Aft) and 41 in place, one end is bent to position to serve as a head thereby necessitating the bending of only the other end for locking each member inplace. Y

Although I have shown a swiveling arrangement between couplerand yoke without the employment of any key for directly supporting the coupler, the only key used being for directly supporting the forward portion of the yoke at the rear of the swivel block portion or diaphragm 27, it is obvious that I do not wish to be restricted to such a construction as, if desired, I may employ a swiveling arrangement such as disclosed in my co-pending application, Serial Noya-,443, filed January 24, 1925. That is, the inner flange 3l on the yoke may be formed considerably thicker and bifurcated and the flanges 33 and 34 on the coupler spaced further apart so that a slot may be provided through coupler and yoke for the reception of a sup-. porting draft key, as shown in said co-pending application.

By virtue of the aforedescribed const-ruction, I have provided an economical dra ft rigging in which angling is permitted between coupler and yoke and in which expense may be saved and economy effected in weight llU by eliminating a'front key and providing single slotted cheek plates as well as avoiding the necessity of a separate swivel butt for the coupler.

Having now described my inw-intimi, what l. claim is:

l. In a draft rigging, in combination with the center sills of a car, a horizontal yoke positionedbetween said sills, and a coupler with its butt portion pocketed in and directly swiveled with respect to said yoke.

2. In a ,draft rigging, in combination with the center sills of a car, a horizontal yoke positioned between' said sills and formed with a forwardly opening pocketed portion at its front end, a coupler with its' butt end extending into said pocketed portion and an upright pin extending through said end and the adjacent walls of the yoke for connecting the members together and permitting 'swiveling motion therebetween.

3. In a draft rigging, in combination with the center sills of a car, a horizontal yoke 'positioned between said sills and formed 4. In a draft rigging, in combination with i the center sills of a car, a horizontal yoke with arear U-shaped portionaad forwardly extending arms, the forward ,pdl-tions of said arms beingI slotted and the ends continued forwardly of said slotted'portions, the adj a cent portions of said sills being slotted, a

draft key extending' through all of said slots for supporting said yoke, aeoupler pivoted to the forward continuation of said yoke for lcorresponding longitudinal movement therewith, and a backstop positioned between said sills adjacent the rear end ofthe yoke, and formed to permit longitudinal movement of said yoke in both directions.

5. In a. draftrigging, in combination with the center sills of a car, a horizontal yoke positioned between said sills and form-ed with a rear U-shaped portion andforwardly extending arms, the forward ends of said arms being provided with slots, the adjacent portions of said sills being provided with the center sills of a car, a horizontal yoke 4 positioned between said sills and formed with a rear U-shaped portion and forwardly extending arms, the forward ends of said arms beinffv slotted, the registerin portions of said sills being likewise slottet and provided with reinforcing cheek plates connected adjacent said slotted portions and provided with corresponding slots therein, a draft key extending through all of said slots for supporting said yoke, a front follower mounted on said key between the arms of said yoke, a rear follower mounted on said yoke adjacent the Uishaped portion thereof, a backstop positioned between said sills adjacent said U-shaped portion of the yoke,

said backstop being formed with a forwardly opening pocket receiving said U-shaped portion of the yoke and upright abutments engaging the rear follower for receiving buffing forces therefrom while permitting relal tively free longitudinal motion of the yoke.I

7. In a railway draft rigging, in combination with a coupler, a horizontal yoke formed with spaced forwardly extending flanges, means pivotally connecting said coupler and yoke intersecting the flanges of the yoke and a corresponding interspaced portion of the coupler and serving for the transmission of draft forces therebetween and complementary curved bearing portions --on the coupler and on the yoke serving to positioned between said sills and formed transmit buing forces and permit relative pivotal motion therebetween.

8. In a railway draft rigging provided with cushioning mechanism` andV a coupler, a horizontal yoke, means pivotally connecting said coupler andyoke, an integral bridge portion on said yoke at the forward end thereof and formed for engagement with the cushioning mechanism and provided with cylindrical bearing portions coaxial with the pivotal means and serving to receive the 'bufling forces from the coupler.

W9. In a railway draft rigging, in combination with a coupler. a horizontal yoke, intersp.n d flanges on the adjoining ends of said n'ieuibers, a pin connecting said coupler and voke and intersecting said interspaced flan es, the flanges` on one being closely engaged by the flanges onV the other and curved bearing portions, coaxial with the pin, provided on each member for pivotal engage ment with the adjacent complementary flanges on the other member.

l0.` In a railway draft rigging, in combination with a coupler, a horizontal yoke, a plurality of rearwardly extending spaced 'flanges on the coupler stem, a plurality of forwardly extending spaced flanges on the yoke intel-meshing with and closely embracing the flanges on the coupler, the outer edges of said flanges being curved coaxially,- cooperating 4coaxially curved portions on each member engaging the curved outer edges of the flanges on the other, and a pin intersecting all of said anges and ooaxially arranged with respect to the curved portions thereon. A

l1. In a .draft rigging, a horizontal yoke,

a coupler pivotally connected thereto, said coupler and yoke being movable together rearwardly upon the application of butiing forces to the coupler and a backstop cooperating with the rear portion of said yoke to permit such` movement.

12. In a draft rigging, in combination with the center sills of a car, a horizontal yoke positioned between saidsills, a coupler pivotally connected to said yoke and both movable rearwardly together upon the application of butling forces, cushioning mechanism embraced by said yoke and a backv stop receiving and supporting the rear end :o

of saidkyoke, while permitting such movement, and provided with abutments for receiving bufting forces from the cushioning mechanism.`

13. A yoke of the horizontal type formed with an integral bridge ortion connecting the forward ends thereo adapted for cngagement with cushioning mechanism and formed with forwardly extending spaced parallel iianges provided with coaxial cylindrical bearing portions, and coaxial cylindrical bearing pockets therebetween for pivotal engagement with cooperating portions DONALD S. BARROWS. 

